Time is often money for the trade, however Nu-Heat states that long drying times and drawn-out installations will be a thing of the past with the launch of its new FastDeck underfloor heating (UFH) system. PBM reveals more.
Described as a whole house solution for both existing and new build properties, FastDeck is a completely dry, low-profile (35mm total height build-up, including the deck) and easy-to-install combined UFH and floor deck solution which can be used in place of a screed finish or laid over new or existing floors.
Indeed, when used as an alternative to a traditional sand and cement or liquid screed floor installation, Nu-Heat says that its all-in-one UFH system “dramatically speeds up the build schedule” by removing the need for the screed to dry before floor coverings are fitted.
The company continues: “Other trades can continue to work on site during installation and, over multiple floors, one, or more, courses of bricks can be saved — again reducing build time. When the cost of screed and its installation is factored in, FastDeck is often a more cost-effective option (and) when this is added to the other benefits, we believe FastDeck is unbeatable.”
The system consists of a moulded panel designed to securely hold the supplier’s 14mm Fastflo floor heating tube in place which is then covered with a foil-faced deck. The moulded panel enables pipe to be conveniently routed back to the manifold or zone distributor and is designed to guide the pipe around bends and to enable multiple runs to be neatly and securely fixed. The foil-facing on the deck distributes heat evenly and the composition of the deck effectively conducts heat into the room.
The deck itself consists of an inert, food-grade gypsum board with aluminium foil laminated to its underside. The moulded FastDeck panel is manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled polypropylene with a design life in excess of 100 years. Nu-Heat also says that the size of the panel has been optimised to reduce wastage on site, however the lightweight panels are described as being “easy to cut to size”.
Typically, a room or heating zone will use several coils of 14mm Fastflo pipe, providing an even spread of warmth across the floor. The company further states that insulation within the floor increases the overall system efficiency. Here, where this is installed immediately below the panel as in a screed replacement construction, it must have a compressive strength higher than 140kPa. Rigid XPS (extruded polystyrene) boards are suitable; expanded polystyrene is not suitable. It notes that the thickness of the insulation is dependent on Part L of Building Regulation and can vary.
FastDeck is described as “a perfect partner for modern gas, oil and LPG condensing boilers” whilst it can be used with heat pumps in all new-build properties and where insulation levels have been increased to meet current Building Regulations. In terms of floor coverings, Nu-Heat says that “virtually any covering, except natural timber, can be applied”.
To coincide with the launch, Nu-Heat has embarked on a significant marketing campaign including attendance at a number of trade shows such as Futurebuild and PlumbExpo and customer visits, sustained social media activity and the launch of a competition centred on an “adrenaline-fuelled, digital FastDeck racing game”. Harking back to the glory days of the arcade or the Commodore 64, this retro wonder was themed around speed and “outrunning the competition” to illustrate the quick installation times of the new UFH system.
